Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible?

Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? | Surprising Science

blogs.smithsonianmag.com 30 Nov '12, 3pm

Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible?

Durians have a notorious aroma likened to rotting meat, turpentine and gym socks. Image via Wikimedia Commons/Kalai If you’ve smelled a durian even once, you probably remember it. Even with the husk intact, the notorious Asian fruit has such a potent stench that it’s banned on the Singapore Rapid Mass Transit . Food writer Richard Sterling has written “its odor is best described as…turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away.” A small minority, though, love the smell and taste of the fruit. Anthony Bourdain calls it “indescribable, something you will either love or despise…Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.” The fruit’s flesh is sometimes eaten raw, or is cooked and used to flavor a number of traditional Southeast Asian dishes and candies. It’s also used in traditional Asian medicine, as bot...

Full article: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/11/what-make...

Tweets

@m_m_campbell » 28 Dec '12, 3am
"Mix of turpentine, onions, & rotting gym socks." What gives durian fruit its foul odour? [link] #plants by @JosephStromberg
@syifazunan » 13 Dec '12, 3pm
Bau surgaaa...RT @arydoe: Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? [link]
@whatfaith » 08 Dec '12, 9pm
RT @jennygao: If you ever wondered why durian smells like it does...[link]
@bjmlho » 07 Dec '12, 1pm
RT @ieatishootipost: Interesting article about what makes Durians smell the way they do!... [link]
@ieatishootipost » 07 Dec '12, 1pm
Interesting article about what makes Durians smell the way they do!... [link]
@gladys » 07 Dec '12, 3am
The durian, demystified [link]
@NikolasKozloff » 06 Dec '12, 12pm
Why does funky #Asian #durian #fruit smell so bad? Scientists uncover new compounds [link]
@CitizenCassidy » 06 Dec '12, 1am
RT @aminatou: "Even apart from the smell, durians are a scientific marvel" [link] cc @CCecille
@aminatou » 06 Dec '12, 12am
"Even apart from the smell, durians are a scientific marvel" [link] cc @CCecille
@UnTourShanghai » 05 Dec '12, 8am
Ever wondered what makes #durian so darn stinky? The Smithsonian delved deep to give us the putrid answer. [link]
@saravaline » 04 Dec '12, 10pm
“@IntlCulCenter: Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? [link]” @neilsarchett
@finishurbroc » 04 Dec '12, 9pm
@claireaust Our beloved Chitaly staple is banned on the Singapore Rapid Mass Transit: [link]
@WellandGoodNYC » 04 Dec '12, 9pm
Best dinner conversation ever! Find out which fruit is banned on the Singapore Rapid Mass Transit @SmithsonianMag [link]
@thomassays » 04 Dec '12, 2pm
Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? | Surprising Science [link] #ming
@jennygao » 04 Dec '12, 1pm
If you ever wondered why durian smells like it does...[link]
@MacCocktail » 04 Dec '12, 5am
RT @alcademics: Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? | Surprising Science [link]
@gretakranz » 04 Dec '12, 4am
I am never not fascinated by the #durian. [link]
@gutter_ca » 04 Dec '12, 2am
GC-O on durian, anyone? RT @Free_Radical1: Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? [link]
@alcademics » 04 Dec '12, 2am
Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? | Surprising Science [link]
@ironloudly » 03 Dec '12, 11pm
Got a whiff in VN! MT @marisfessenden: Scientists id elements of durian stink: [link] "fruity, skunky, metallic, rubbery..."
@365richmond » 03 Dec '12, 10pm
Remember how well I (did not) handle the taste of #durian? The #Smithsonian discusses its skunkiness, scientifically : [link]
@austen_cg » 03 Dec '12, 8pm
Durian, deconstructed (and whatdya know, that tale about how alcohol + durian=death could actually be true!) [link]
@SmithsonianMag » 03 Dec '12, 8pm
"Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother."- Anthony @Bourdain on Durian Fruit. [link]
@TMNheadlines » 03 Dec '12, 7pm
Study of the chemicals that give durian fruit its potent smell and taste—like kissing a dead grandmother. [link]
@photohungry » 03 Dec '12, 5pm
can't stand the smell of durian, well looks like they are getting to the bottom of it (no solution to eliminate yet) [link]
@aneeshsurender » 03 Dec '12, 4pm
'Don't drink and durian'! Why getting intoxicated while eating the fruit can lead to death: [link]
@huimingly » 03 Dec '12, 3pm
RT @RubbishEatRGrow: Science explains durian's stench/fragrance. [link]
@AuriasMlynKtchn » 03 Dec '12, 3pm
I love it when people try to come up with scientific reasons why durians can be so stinky yet so delicious. This... [link]
@RubbishEatRGrow » 03 Dec '12, 3pm
Science explains durian's stench/fragrance. [link]
@Emily_Heath » 03 Dec '12, 3pm
RT @meimaimaggio: Not only do durians reek but they inhibit alcohol breakdown so you can die if you eat it and drink at the same time: [link]
@meimaimaggio » 03 Dec '12, 12pm
Not only do durians reek but they inhibit alcohol breakdown so you can die if you eat it and drink at the same time: [link]
@tomboysdontcry » 03 Dec '12, 12pm
I really don't think it smells terrible ... I love DURIAN! [link]
@GarySoup » 02 Dec '12, 3pm
Smithsonian tries to explain why durian smells like it does. [link] @SheSimmers HT @SizzleMel
@M_Chew » 02 Dec '12, 3pm
I'd totally have some durian for breakfast... RT @EatingAsia: Durian's stench, explained. [link] …
@SizzleMel » 02 Dec '12, 9am
Now it makes sense, sorta… reading this in a semi-awake state at 4 am. “@EatingAsia: Durian’s stench, explained. [link]”
@dominik » 02 Dec '12, 8am
Durian! [link]
@julioespinasays » 02 Dec '12, 7am
RT @poihierro: Durian's stench explained: [link]
@TFPtweets » 02 Dec '12, 7am
A stench I love dearly RT @jujichews: RT @EatingAsia: Durian's stench, explained. [link]
@LauraAngelica21 » 02 Dec '12, 6am
I vote for scientists to study this that enjoy eating the durian fruit. @Marisela72 P!U! [link]
@astyrred » 02 Dec '12, 6am
RT @EatingAsia: Durian's stench, explained. [link]
@EatingAsia » 02 Dec '12, 6am
Durian's stench, explained. [link]
@melodychia » 02 Dec '12, 5am
RT @hai_ren: Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? [link] (by @SmithsonianMag) Hey, it should be "Why does it smell so good?" ;)
@VaranusSalvator » 02 Dec '12, 5am
Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible? [link] (by @SmithsonianMag) Hey, it should be "Why does it smell so good?" ;)
@AElicano » 02 Dec '12, 1am
“@legalnomads: Have you eaten durian fruit? If so, you know stinky it is & now [link] tells you why: [link]
@legalnomads » 02 Dec '12, 1am
Have you eaten durian fruit? If so, you know stinky it is & now [link] tells you why: [link]
@InasaF » 01 Dec '12, 2pm
RT @sora9n: it turns out durians have 50 aromatic chemical compounds in them (!) #nowonderthestench [link]
@sora9n » 01 Dec '12, 1pm
it turns out durians have 50 aromatic chemical compounds in them (!) #nowonderthestench [link]
@mattVDiLeo » 01 Dec '12, 2am
GC/MS of durians (with one of those smell-o-scope rigs!) [link] and [link]
@markchappelle » 01 Dec '12, 1am
What fruit smells skunky, metallic, rubbery, and burnt, with roasted onion, garlic, cheese, onion and honey? [link] <-- WOW.
@SmithsonianMag » 01 Dec '12, 1am
The fruit that makes your breath smell as if "you'd been French-kissing your dead grandmother."- Anthony @Bourdain [link]